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North Korea’s Fourth Nuclear Test: What Does it Mean?

North Korea’s boast on January 5 about having detonated a “hydrogen bomb,” the colloquial name for a thermonuclear explosive, seems highly hyperbolic due to the relatively low estimated explosive yield, as inferred from the reported seismic magnitude of about 4.8 (a small- to moderately-sized event). Charles Ferguson, President of FAS, investigates the claim and why it is cause for concern.

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North Korea’s Fourth Nuclear Test: What Does it Mean?

Scientist Spotlight

This new installment features Q&A's with prominent FAS-affiliated scientists and engineers. Dr. Alan Robock is Distinguished Professor of climate science in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University. Read the full interview here.

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Scientist Spotlight

Forget LRSO; JASSM-ER Can Do The Job

Early next year, the Obama administration, with eager backing from hardliners in Congress, is expected to commit the U.S. taxpayers to a bill of $20 billion to $30 billion for a new nuclear weapon the United States doesn’t need: the Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) air-launched cruise missile. Kristensen analyzes the claims and makes the case for reducing the role of and reliance on nuclear weapons by canceling the LRSO and instead focusing bomber standoff strike capabilities on conventional cruise missiles.

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Forget LRSO; JASSM-ER Can Do The Job

Chinese Strategic Missile Defense: Will It Happen, and What Would It Mean?

In the November issue of Arms Control Today, FAS Adjunct Senior Fellow Bruce MacDonald and FAS President Charles Ferguson examine the implications for the United States and its allies of further development and possible deployment of a limited Chinese strategic missile defense system. The overarching assessment is that it is quite possible, certainly less unlikely than many believe, that China could deploy a strategic missile defense system with a small number of interceptors within the next few years for a variety of national security, geopolitical, and domestic reasons. Please see the full article here.

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Chinese Strategic Missile Defense: Will It Happen, and What Would It Mean?

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About FAS

FAS works to provide science-based analysis of catastrophic threats to national and international security and to develop policy solutions to reduce these threats. FAS experts examine issues related to nuclear weapons policy, disarmament, nuclear energy, radiological and nuclear terrorism, energy security, chemical and biological weapons and government secrecy policy.

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Recent Publications

Understanding the Dragon Shield: Likelihood and Implications of Chinese Strategic Ballistic Missile Defense

By FAS | September 30, 2015

While China has received growing attention for modernizing and expanding its strategic offensive nuclear forces over the last ten years, little attention has been paid to Chinese activities in testing and developing ballistic missile defenses (BMD). Mo …

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Upcoming Events

Briefing and Report Release: Naval Nuclear Reactors and Use of Highly Enriched Uranium

Friday, March 20, 2015 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385 Washington, DC The United States and other countries with nuclear navies have benefited from having nuclear-powered warships. But do the continued benefits depend on i …

Luncheon Briefing on Advanced Nuclear Reactors

Luncheon Briefing: Making the Next Step Forward with Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Assessing Progress and Overcoming Roadblocks on Safety, Technology and Policy Thursday, July 24, 2014 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-31 …

Short Course on CBRN Weapons, Science and Policy (CBRN)

FAS and George Mason University will host a short course from July 7-9, 2014 as part of GMU’s 2014 summer program in International Security. This three day, non-credit short course is designed to introduce participants to the science, security, and pol …

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